Theatre News

The Hostry Festival expands for 2013

Stash Kirkbride, Peter Beck, Rebecca Chapman & Peter Barrow – the Hostry Festival team
Stash Kirkbride, Peter Beck, Rebecca Chapman & Peter Barrow – the Hostry Festival team

The third Hostry festival, centred on the iconic building which abuts Norwich Cathedral, takes place between 24 October and 3 November. It has enlarged itself considerably from last year, with more drama, visual art exhibitions and concerts as well as the participation of the similarly multi-purpose Narthex attached to Norwich’s RC Cathedral of St John the Baptist.

On Saturday 26 October, the second Norfolk Arts Awards includes new categories for Theatre in Education (sponsored by the Norwich Theatre Royal), Fashion and Costume Design (sponsored by the Sevenwolves) and Dance and Musical Theatre (sponsored by Porselli Dancewear). The Maddermarket Theatre promotes the award for Lifetime Contribution to the Arts and the John Jarrold Trust that for New Writing.

Other categories include the Theatre Award, the Music Award, the Visual Arts Award, Fosters Solicitors’ Business and the Arts Award, the Broadcast and Press Award, the Hy Kurzner Arts Entrepreneur Award, the Education and Community Award, the Peter Barrow Bursary ward for Best Newcomer and the EDP People’s Choice Award.

Co-founder and artistic director Stash Kirkbride enthuses: “What’s been particularly rewarding this year, is to see the increase from 12 projects on offer in 2012 to 22 projects for 2013, all handmade in Norfolk. With co-producer of the festival Peter Beck directing our main house play (Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” in a new translation by Hamilton Wilson between 29 October and 2 November) this year, it has allowed me time to focus on developing the festival to its full potential, and we’re not there yet!

“A lot of next year is already being planned, with many of the annual events returning with new subject matters and new artists involved. What people will get from this Autumn Festival of Norfolk is a genuine celebration of arts across the board; all events specially commissioned by us, delivered in one of the most stunning venues built in Norfolk in recent times.

“The festival is for all ages, from five to 95. It’s a family festival that’s growing at an extraordinary rate. run by over 100 volunteers and filled with original works. The Hostry Festival is supplying a much-needed platform for artists to work at a high standard throughout. On behalf of my creative partner and co founder Peter Barrow, I look forward to seeing you there”.

One festival commission is “Starlings on the Green” by Wilson with Paul Goldsmith and Lucinda Gray(31 October to 2 November). This complements “A Doll’s House” in its take on how people relate to each other nowadays, epitomised by a chance conversation by two people sharing a park bench. 2013 has been, of course, Britten’s centenary and there is a poetry and musical celebration with Lisa Cassidy and Georgina Whitehead on 30 October.

The inclusive Total Ensemble Theatre Company present “Dignity” on 26 and 30 October and on 2 November. The Narthex events include actor Moray Watson reminiscing at lunchtime on 1 November and the Kustendyke Quartet in the evening. Norfolk-based authors Rose Tremain, Louis de Bernières, Hilton Pashley and Andrew Cowan have their turn in the spotlight during the afternoon of 1 November back at the Hostry.

Norwich’s fringiest theatre, The Garage, hosts Milk Presents with “A Rea Man’s Guide to Sainthood” in the evening of 31 October and Red Earth Theatre’s version of Kästner’s “Emil and the Detectives” in the afternoon of 1 November. The main visual art exhibition is “My Norfolk”, with paintings in several media as well as sculpture by 12 selected artists. All the work on display throughout the festival at the Hostry will be on sale.